Small boat sea anchor

ABSTRACT

A sea anchor that is durable, easy to retrieve, pick up, and store, deploys quickly, is always open, and reduces the chances of the cords fouling is disclosed. The sea anchor is useful in controlling the speed and position of watercraft. In one embodiment, the sea anchor includes a link for securing the anchor to watercraft and a rode attached at one end to the link and at the other end to a connector. The connector is also attached to a multitude of funnel cords which are affixed to a durable rigid funnel. In one embodiment the connector is a hollow conical shape with holes for attachment of the rode and funnel cords. The funnel can have tabs adjacent the mouth of the funnel for the connection of the funnel cords and fins around the stem for orientation of the funnel when in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/953,406, filed Mar. 14, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sea anchors have been used to control boat position and speed of driftin heavy seas for hundreds of years. A variety of modern commercial seaanchors exist including a parachute style canopy made of fabric which isconnected by many cords to a single line that is then attached to thebow of a boat. To slow or stop a boat from drifting downwind, the seaanchor is tossed into the water. Once the anchor is in the water, thecanopy opens and catches the water and creates resistance, which slowsthe drift of the boat and positions the bow so that it faces into thewind and waves. This anchoring device has saved many ships and smallercraft from rolling sideways and capsizing in heavy winds and seas.

However, these canopy style anchors suffer from several disadvantages.The canopy style anchors are not easy to deploy, store, pick up, orretrieve. The canopy style anchors are prone to tangling cords, wear andtear, and do not allow for connection of additional canopies.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a sea anchor that canovercome the aforementioned disadvantages. The present invention relatesgenerally to boat anchors, and in particular, to a sea anchor device forcontrolling the speed and position of watercraft, such as a small boat,kayak, or paddle board, in the wind. More specifically, the presentinvention is directed to a novel sea anchor, wherein the anchor utilizesa rigid funnel that is durable, allows for connection of additionalfunnels, reduces the chances of the sea anchor cords fouling, and iseasier to retrieve, pick up, and store.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a sea anchor device mayinclude a link for securing the anchor to watercraft, such as a smallboat, kayak, or paddle board, and a cable, or rode, attached to the linkand to a connector. The connector is also attached to a multitude offunnel cords which are affixed to a durable rigid funnel. The sea anchormay be used to assist in controlling the speed and position ofwatercraft with respect to the wind.

According to one aspect, the sea anchor may be affixed to the bow orstern of a small boat, kayak, or paddle board by a link which affixesthe rode to the watercraft. The link may be a removable clip,carabineer, knot, or any other suitable means for affixing the rode tothe boat. The rode may be affixed at one terminal end to the link and atthe opposite terminal end to the connecter, thereby joining the seaanchor to the boat. The rode may be made of materials that providestrength to offset the tensile forces associated with the use of the seaanchor. Additionally, the rode may be elastic to absorb some of theshock load and tensional forces created by use of the sea anchor. Therode may be a rope, chain, cable, or the like. In order to producedesired characteristics, such as strength, durability, and elasticity,the rode may utilize a three strand twisted, double braid, single braid,para-cord, or other suitable construction. Additionally, the rode may beconstructed using materials and combinations of materials to providedesired characteristics, such as nylon, metal, or other sufficientmaterials.

According to another aspect, the connector may attach the funnel to therode through funnel cords. The connector may be any design desired tosecure the rode and the funnel cords. However, in a preferredembodiment, the connector may be a hollow, conical shaped device made ofplastic with an opening through the nose of the cone for attaching therode, and further including, along the base of the cone, a means forattaching the funnel cords. The funnel cords may be four separate cords,each with one end attached to the connector and the other attached tothe funnel. Alternatively, the funnel cords may be two bridles, eachpassing through the holes in the connector and with each end beingattached to the funnel. The funnel cords may be made of any materialsuitable to durably attach the connector and funnel.

According to a further aspect, the funnel component comprises thetypical funnel shape whereby the diameter of one end is larger than thediameter of the other end. The larger end is often referred to as amouth. The smaller end may include a stem-like projection, the stem,forming a traditional funnel structure and an opening in the base of thestem. The shape, dimensions, and volume of the funnel affect theresistance of the sea anchor. The resistance being necessary to slow andalign a small boat, kayak, or paddle board. As a result, the shape,dimensions, and volume of the funnel may be different depending upon thedesired resistance. The desired resistance may differ base on the sizeof the boat or board, the depth of the water, and the speed of the wind.

According to another aspect, the funnel is preferably made of a rigidand durable material. A rigid funnel reduces the chance of the cordsfouling or tangling. Additionally, an anchor of this type deploys fasterbecause the rigid funnel is always open, whereas a fabric canopy seaanchor may fail to open. Also, a rigid funnel is more durable, easier topick up, and store on the deck of a small boat, kayak, or paddle boardthan a fabric canopy sea anchor. Further, the funnel allows water todrain out through the opening in the stem when the sea anchor is removedfrom the water making the funnel lighter and easier to retrieve than acloth canopy or closed vessel design sea anchor. The funnel may havetabs around the interior edge of the mouth for attaching the funnelcords. Additionally, the funnel may have fins around the outside of thestem to assist in deployment of the sea anchor by orienting the funnelmore quickly when in use.

According to yet another aspect, the stem of the funnel may include ahole passing through one side of the stem to the other. These holes,through-holes, may be utilized to attach additional sea anchor devices.A rode of a second sea anchor may be attached to the through-hole inorder to connect a second funnel. Attaching, additional sea anchordevices may be useful to increase resistance when conditions change,such as when the wind or waves increase. Alternatively, the rode of asecond sea anchor device (second rode) may be attached directly to therode of the first sea anchor device (first rode). The attachment of asecond sea anchor in series may be advantageous in certain situations,such as in shallow water where a larger diameter sea anchor would comeinto contact with the bottom surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sea anchor in useattached to the stern of a boat with the wind direction identified as Wand the drift direction identified as D;

FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the sea anchor showing theconnector and funnel;

FIG. 2A is a side view of one embodiment of the connector showing theconical shape and the holes in the base;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the sea anchor with anadditional sea anchor attached through the through-holes of the firstsea anchor funnel;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the sea anchor with anadditional sea anchor attached to the rode of the first sea anchor; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of multiple sea anchorsin use attached to the stern of a boat with the wind directionidentified as W and the drift direction identified as D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sea anchor 10 that is durable, easy toretrieve, pick up, and store, deploys quickly, is always open, andreduces the chances of the cords fouling. The sea anchor 10 is useful incontrolling the speed and position of watercraft such as a small boat,kayak, or paddle board. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the seaanchor 10 includes a rode 14 affixed to stern of a boat 40 by a link 12.The link 12 may be a removable clip, carabineer, knot, or any othersuitable means for affixing the rode 14 to a boat 40. The rode 14, whichmay be a cable, rope, or chain, may be affixed to the link 12 at oneterminal end and to a connector 16 at the opposite terminal end, therebyjoining the sea anchor 10 to the boat 40. A rode 14 may be made ofstrong materials in order to resist the tensile forces created by theinteraction of the boat 40, wind, and water. Additionally, a rode 14 maybe elastic to absorb some of the shock load and tensional forces createdby the interaction of the boat 40, wind, and water. In order to producedesired characteristics, such as strength, durability, and elasticity, arode 14 may utilize various materials and constructions. For example,the rode 14 may utilize a three strand twisted, double braid, singlebraid, para-cord, or other suitable construction. Additionally, the rodemay be constructed using materials or combinations of materials toprovide desired characteristics, such as nylon, metal, or othersufficient materials.

In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sea anchor 10 may include aconnector 16 affixed at a terminal end of a rode 14. The connector 16may join the rode 14 with the funnel cords 18 attached to the funnel 20.In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the connector 16 may be ahollow, conical shaped device made of plastic with a hole through thenose of the conical shape, for attaching the rode 14, and holes on thebase of the conical shape for attachment of the funnel cords 18.However, the connector 16 may be any construction desired to secure therode 14 to the funnel cords 16. In a preferred embodiment as shown inFIG. 2, the end of a rode 14 extends through the hole in the top of thecone and exits a hole in the base, terminating in a loop. Alternatively,the rode 14 may terminate in a small ring, a d-ring connection device,or other suitable means for securing the rode 14 through the hole. Thefunnel cords 18 may be two or more separate cords, each with oneterminal end attached to the connector 16 and the other attached to thefunnel 20. Alternatively, the funnel cord 18 may be one or more bridles,which is a cord with both ends secured to an object to be held, lifted,or towed and with the cord secured and held or lifted generally aboutthe cord's center. In a preferred embodiment, the funnel cords 18 may betwo bridles. The bridles may have both of their terminal ends affixed tothe funnel 20 and, generally about their centers, may be affixed to theconnector 16 by the bridle passing in one hole on the connector 16 andout another. The funnel cords 18 may be of any material and constructionsuitable to durably secure the attachment of the connector 16 and funnel20.

In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the sea anchor 10 includes a funnel20. The funnel 20 has a mouth 24, stem 26, and opening at the end of thestem. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the funnel 20 provides resistanceagainst the movement of a boat 40, kayak, or paddle board as a result ofwind and waves, which helps to slow and align a boat, kayak, or paddleboard. The volume, shape, and dimensions of the funnel 20 have a directeffect on the resistance created during use. For example, as the surfacearea, and volume increase, the resistance generally increases. In oneembodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, the diameter of the mouth 24 of thefunnel 20 is larger than the diameter of the opening at the end of thestem 26. The volume, shape, and dimensions of a funnel 20 may bedesigned based on the amount of resistance necessary to provide adesired speed and alignment in relation to the size of the boat 40 orboard, depth of the water, and the speed of the wind.

The funnel 20 may be made of a rigid and durable material. For example,the funnel 20 may be made of plastic, fiberglass, or other rigid anddurable materials. A sea anchor with a rigid funnel 20 reduces thechance of the cords 14, 18 fouling, is easier and faster to deploy, iseasier to retrieve, pick up, and store, and is more durable than afabric canopy sea anchor. Additionally, a rigid funnel 20 is alwaysopen, removing the issue that a fabric canopy sea anchor may fail toopen. As shown in FIG. 2, the funnel 20 may have tabs 22 protrudinginwardly from the interior edge of the mouth 24, for attachment offunnel cords 18. The tabs 22 may serve to hide or protect knots or othermeans of attachment of the funnel cords 18 with the funnel 20. However,it is anticipated that the funnel cords 18 may be attached to the funnel20 in other suitable locations, such as around the mouth 24 or along thesides of the funnel 20. Further, the funnel 20 may have fins 28protruding outwardly from the stem 26 to assist in the speedy deploymentof the sea anchor 10 by more quickly orienting the funnel 20 when inuse.

In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, the stem 26 of the funnel 20 mayinclude a through-hole 30 or two through-holes 30 on parallel sectionsof the stem 26. The through-holes 30 may allow for attachment of asecond sea anchor 10. As shown in FIG. 3, a rode 14 of a second seaanchor 10 (second rode) may be attached to the through-hole 30, therebyconnecting two sea anchors 10 in series and increasing the resistance.Increased resistance may be necessary to slow and orient a boat 40 orboard in situations where conditions change, such as when wind or wavesincrease. Alternatively, the second rode, may be attached directly tothe rode 14 of the first sea anchor device (first rode), the firstanchor device being attached to the boat 40 or board. As shown in FIG.4, the second rode 14, may be attached to the terminal end of the firstrode 14 after the first rode 14 has exited through a hole in the base ofthe connector 16. The attachment of a second sea anchor 10, may beadvantageous when conditions require increased resistance. For example,when in use on a larger boat, in windy conditions, or when shallow waterprevents the use of a larger diameter sea anchor 10 because the anchor10 would come into contact with the river, sea, or lake bottom.

In one embodiment, the sea anchor 10 and any additional attached seaanchors 10 may be useful in slowing and positioning the boat 40 forfishing. The resistance created by the funnel 20 when in use pulls onthe funnel cords 18, connector 16, rode 14, link 12, and boat 40 keepingthe boat facing into the wind in a direction dependent upon where thesea anchor 10 is attached. For example, if the sea anchor 10 is attachedto the bow of a boat 40, the bow will be facing the wind. Alternativelyas shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, if the sea anchor 10 is attached to the sternof a boat 40, the stern will be facing the wind. Utilizing a sea anchor,an angler may wish to position the boat 40 with either the bow or sternside opposite the wind to allow him to fish off of that side. Fishing onthe side of the boat opposite the wind may present a clear view ofapproaching fish. Slowing the drift of the boat 40 may also allow moretime to bait the fish before the fish sees the boat. Additionally, useof the present sea anchor 10 to slow and position watercraft may beuseful when someone is doing exercises like stretching or yoga on apaddle board.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims shouldnot be limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced byalternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose,unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a genericseries of equivalent or similar features.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sea anchor comprising: a funnel made of a rigidmaterial comprising a mouth, said mouth having a first diameter, a stem,and an opening at the end of the stem, said opening having a seconddiameter that is smaller than the first; and said funnel havingattachment means for attachment to a watercraft.
 2. The sea anchor setforth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means includes a rode.
 3. Thesea anchor set forth in claim 2, wherein said attachment means includesa connector for affixing said funnel to said rode.
 4. The sea anchor setforth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means includes funnel cords.5. The sea anchor set forth in claim 2, wherein said attachment meansincludes a link for affixing said rode to said watercraft.
 6. The seaanchor set forth in claim 1, wherein said sea anchor is attached to saidwatercraft.
 7. The sea anchor set forth in claim 1, wherein said meansfor attachment is removable from said watercraft.
 8. The sea anchor setforth in claim 1, wherein said funnel includes tabs protruding inwardlyfrom the edge of said mouth for attachment of funnel cords.
 9. The seaanchor set forth in claim 1, wherein said funnel includes finsprotruding outwardly from said stem of said funnel to assist in thealignment of said funnel when deployed in the water.
 10. The sea anchorset forth in claim 1, wherein said funnel includes at least onethrough-hole defined by the stem of the funnel for the attachment of asecond sea anchor.
 11. The sea anchor set forth in claim 10, wherein asecond sea anchor is attached to said through-hole.
 12. The sea anchorset forth in claim 1, wherein a second sea anchor is attached to saidfunnel.
 13. The sea anchor set forth in claim 2, wherein an additionalsea anchor is attached to said rode.
 14. A sea anchor comprising: afunnel made of a rigid material comprising a mouth, said mouth having afirst diameter, a stem, and an opening at the end of the stem, saidopening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first; aplurality of funnel cords, attached to said funnel; a connector,attached to said funnel cords; a rode, attached to said connector; and alink, attached to said rode and to a watercraft.
 15. The sea anchor ofclaim 14, wherein a second sea anchor is attached to said funnel. 16.The sea anchor of claim 14, wherein a second sea anchor is attached tosaid rode.